Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  • Business
  •  

California Delegation Heads To Central America

  •  Katie Orr 
Monday, July 14, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Katie Orr, Capital Public Radio

Sen. Darrell Steinberg speaks with the Sacramento media before leaving on a trip to Central America.

Katie Orr, Capital Public Radio

Several California lawmakers will be spending the next few days in Central America. Senate President Darrell Steinberg met with reporters today before catching his flight. The trip has been planned for awhile. But Steinberg says it will be a good opportunity to talk with Central American leaders about the recent influx of migrants from the region to the United States. He acknowledges the problem is primarily a federal issue, but says California has a stake as well.

“I know, for example, that we have a very large Guatemalan-American community in California. We have a number of Hondurans that live here and people from El Salvador," he says. "We of course have a border, but we welcome people to our state.”

Until recently the Border Patrol was transferring many of the immigrants to Southern California for processing. Numerous children are reportedly making the journey to the United States on their own.

The delegation will also be discussing the future of California’s ports while on the trip. Hundreds of billions of dollars worth of cargo pass through the state’s ports every year. But port associations are concerned an expanded Panama Canal could hurt that business. The canal is being widened so larger ships can pass through. That could mean fewer ships will be stopping on the West Coast to unload their cargo.

Steinberg and the delegation plan to meet with The Panama Canal Authority.

“We want to make sure that our ports and our vital economy as it relates to our ports are protected and that we understand how the expansion of the Panama Canal might impact us," he says. "Certainly I believe in free trade because free trade, if done right, benefits trading partners and I want to see what we can do to enhance our trading relationships.” 

UCLA Economics Professor Jerry Nickelsburg says the expansion may slow the growth of the ports, but isn’t likely to take away existing business. And he says the Central American has project has spurred some improvements in California.

“All three major ports in California, so that’s Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland, have engaged in the construction of new infrastructure," he says, "and are currently building new infrastructure, new terminals or dredging so that they have deep water terminals for the new, larger ships.” 

Nickelsburg says competition will be increased but he says some ports on the East Coast also have problems with capacity or location, which shippers must take into account. 


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 businesscapitoltradeinternational

Katie Orr

Former Health Care Reporter

Katie Orr reported for Capital Public Radio News through December 2015.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

California reparations task force aims at more than dollars, seeks policies to prevent harm

January 27, 2023

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File

Thieves drain millions off CalFresh and CalWORKs recipients’ cards, families wait and taxpayers pay

January 31, 2023

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Rep. Adam Schiff announces 2024 Senate run, teeing up a high-profile primary

January 26, 2023

Most Viewed

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 pandemic has shifted people's finances

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Tyre Nichols loved skateboarding. That's how his friends say they'll remember him

California coronavirus updates: FDA plans to simplify COVID-19 vaccinations

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 pandemic has shifted people's finances

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Tyre Nichols loved skateboarding. That's how his friends say they'll remember him

California coronavirus updates: FDA plans to simplify COVID-19 vaccinations

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.